Jack Ikin
John Thomas Ikin
Born: 7 March 1918, Bignall End, Staffordshire
Died: 15 September 1984, Bignall End, Staffordshire
Major Teams: Lancashire, England.
Known As: Jack Ikin
Batting Style: Left Hand Bat
Bowling Style: Leg Break Googly
Test Debut: England v India at Lord's, 1st Test, 1946
Last Test: England v South Africa at The Oval, 5th Test, 1955
Career Statistics:
TESTS
(career)
M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St
Batting & Fielding 18 31 2 606 60 20.89 0 3 31 0
Balls M R W Ave BBI 5 10 SR Econ
Bowling 572 12 354 3 118.00 1-38 0 0 190.6 3.71
FIRST-CLASS
(career: 1938 - 1964)
M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St
Batting & Fielding 365 554 66 17968 192 36.81 27 108 419 0
Balls R W Ave BBI 5 10 SR Econ
Bowling 22654 10262 339 30.27 6-21 11 1 66.8 2.71
LIST A LIMITED OVERS
M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct St
Batting & Fielding 0 - - - - - - - - -
Balls M R W Ave BBI 4w 5w SR Econ
Bowling 0 - - - - - - - - -
- Explanations of First-Class and List A status courtesy of the ACS.
StatsGuru Filters for Jack Ikin
Profile:
Jack Ikin was a steady, correct left-hand bat who sold his wicket dearly, a
useful leg break and googly bowler, and a quite brilliant short-leg fielder.
Stronger on the off-side than the leg, he was capable of opening but often
batted down the order. Born in Staffordshire he debuted at 16 for his native
county before the Second World War, and made his first-class debut for Minor
Counties in 1938. He played four times for Lancashire in 1939, dismissing
the great George Headley for his initial first-class wicket. He lost crucial
years to the war, but on the resumption of first-class cricket made such an
impression for Lancashire that he was picked to play against India in 1946
before receiving his county cap.
Ikin played for England 18 times in all, without ever playing a major
innings, or firmly establishing himself in the side. His performances
against India were unimpressive, but the selectors, seeking a bat who would
lend stability to the middle order, picked him for the tour of Australia
that winter. He played in all five Tests, bowling infrequently, and with a
highest innings of 60. In the First Test he apparently caught the struggling
Bradman at slip, but the appeal was turned down, and Bradman went on to
dominate England in the series - many thought that if Bradman had failed he
might have retired at that point.
Picked to tour the West Indies the following winter, Ikin failed to make
much of the chances offered to him, a
pattern that was to be repeated several times. In 1950-51, he had a superb
tour of India with a Commonwealth XI, averaging nearly 90 against strong
opposition. But such success continued to elude him at Test level. He opened
the innings with Hutton several times during the 1951 series against South
Africa, crucially making a brave 38 in most difficult conditions as England
won the Third Test. Battered and bruised by a series of short pitched
deliveries, Ikin stood firm in the final hour of the fourth day, setting up
an easy victory. Ill health cut short his first-class career, and he retired
from first-class cricket in 1957. He returned to play for Staffordshire
however, captaining them for ten years. He was a respected coach, and toured
Australia and New Zealand in 1965-66 as assistant manager of the MCC team.
Wisden said of him in his obituary: "Gentle, generous and friendly, he
perhaps lacked the toughness to make quite the most of his considerable
natural talent" (DL 2001).
Last Updated: Monday, 29-Jul-2002 12:32:44 GMT
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